The agreement announced today is a tremendous step forward that finally puts us on a path to complete the rebuilding of the
World Trade Center site, once and for all.

For the more than eight years since the attacks, residents of Lower Manhattan have fought for a fully redeveloped World Trade
Center, a memorial to honor the more than three thousand whose lives were lost, a performing arts center that will draw
visitors from all over the world, and an above-ground, architecturally significant Fulton Transit Center.

This agreement will finally allow us to realize that vision and enables us to continue to build a more vibrant, 24/7, mixed-use
community in Lower Manhattan that is better and brighter than ever before.

The framework approved by the Port Authority protects taxpayers and the public and appropriately requires the developer to
take on a greater share of the risk. It is a testament to the perseverance and willingness to compromise of all the parties,
including Larry Silverstein and Governor Paterson, and in particular, to the commitment and dedication of Mayor Bloomberg
and Deputy Mayor Robert Lieber to ensuring that any agreement not step back from our commitment to a full rebuilding
on the World Trade Center site.

The World Trade Center is a symbol to the world of our faith in our city and in my Lower Manhattan community and attests
to our resilience and our commitment to rebuild after the worst terrorist attack on American soil in our nation's history.
Today's agreement honors that faith and is a tremendous victory for all New Yorkers. I urge the parties to move quickly to
finalize this agreement so that we can finally resume progress at the site.